Epidemiological study (observational study)

Childhood leukaemia and distance from power lines in California: a population-based case-control study epidem.

By: Crespi CM, Vergara XP, Hooper C, Oksuzyan S, Wu S, Cockburn M, Kheifets L

Published in: Br J Cancer 2016; 115 (1): 122-128

Aim of study (acc. to author)

A case-control study of childhood leukemia risk and childhood CNS cancer was conducted in the population living near power lines in California, USA.

Endpoint/type of risk estimation

Type of risk estimation:

incidence

(odds ratio (OR))

Exposure

Assessment

measurement: measuring of distances using Google Earth aerial imagery; only for childhood leukemia cases: on-site measurements of the precise distances
calculation: geocoding of the distance between mother's residential address at time of birth to closest power line

Exposure groups

Group	Description
Group 1	distance of residential birth address from closest power line: 0 - 50 m
Group 2	distance of residential birth address from closest power line: 50 - 100 m
Group 3	distance of residential birth address from closest power line: 100 - 200 m
Group 4	distance of residential birth address from closest power line: 200 - 300 m
Group 5	distance of residential birth address from closest power line: 300 - 400 m
Group 6	distance of residential birth address from closest power line: 400 - 500 m
Group 7	distance of residential birth address from closest power line: 500 - 600 m
Reference group 8	distance of residential birth address from closest power line: ≥ 600 m

Population

Group:
- children
Age: 0–15 years
Observation period: 1986 - 2008
Study location: USA (California)

Case group

Data source: California Cancer Registry, California Birth Registry

Control group

Selection:
- population-based
Matching:
- sex
- age
- case:control = 1:1
Exclusion criteria: diagnosis of any type of cancer

Study size

	Cases	Controls
Eligible	10,503	-
Evaluable	9,096	9,096

Other:

5788 childhood leukemia and 3308 childhood CNS cancer cases

Statistical analysis method:

unconditional logistic regression

(adjustment:

age
sex
socioeconomic status
ethnicity

)

Results (acc. to author)

For childhood leukemia, there were 22 cases and 15 controls at distance of residential birth address from closest power line of 0-50 m, and for CNS cancers, there were 7 controls and 8 cases at the same distance.
A statistically non-significant, slight increased risk for childhood leukemia was observed within 50m of a power line over 200 kV (OR 1.4, CI 0.7-2.7). There was no evidence of increased risk for distances beyond 50 m, for lower-voltage lines, or for CNS cancers.
The authors conclude that the study provides at most weak support for increased leukaemia risk for children living within 50 m of transmission lines of above 200 kV reported in other studies. Reports of increased risk for distances beyond 50 m were not replicated.

Study funded by

Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), USA
National Cancer Institute (NCI; U.S. National Institutes of Health), Maryland, USA

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